Tragic Death of Salon Owner After First Cocaine Experience
A 34-year-old hair salon owner suffered a fatal heart attack on New Year's Eve after using cocaine for the very first time. Francesca 'Franki' Phillips and her husband Darren decided to purchase a gram of the Class A drug for £80 as they wanted to "do something new" to celebrate the occasion, an inquest on the Isle of Wight heard.
A Fateful Decision with Devastating Consequences
The couple, who ran a hair salon together, had been enjoying a quiet evening at home playing video games when they made the decision to try cocaine. Darren had not taken the substance since his teenage years, while Franki had never used it before. Although they discussed their concerns and had "no plans" to continue using drugs, they proceeded with their experiment.
During the evening, Franki consumed three Disaronno and Pepsi drinks. The couple each snorted two small lines of cocaine approximately two hours apart, and Franki also took "a couple of drags" from her husband's cannabis cigarette.
Rapid Deterioration and Emergency Response
At around 10:30 PM, Franki began complaining of back pain and started vomiting. The discomfort soon moved up to her shoulders, and shortly after midnight, she went upstairs to request aspirin. By 1:00 AM, Darren called emergency services, reporting that his wife might be experiencing a heart attack as her chest was tightening.
Her condition worsened rapidly, and Darren made a second 999 call at 2:10 AM, by which time Franki was "turning blue and struggling to breathe." The operator informed him that an ambulance would arrive within 18 minutes, apologizing for the delay as Darren pleaded for them to hurry.
Franki's sister Laura and her boyfriend Benjamin arrived at the scene during this critical period. Benjamin made two additional emergency calls before an ambulance finally arrived at 2:34 AM. Paramedics immediately began CPR when Franki went into cardiac arrest.
Failed Resuscitation and Aftermath
Despite 45 minutes of continuous attempts to restart her heart, Franki was declared dead shortly after 3:30 AM on January 1, 2023. Pathologist Dr. Adnan Al-Badri conducted a post-mortem examination and determined the provisional cause of death as cardiac arrest resulting from a coronary artery spasm triggered by cocaine use. He emphasized that cocaine played a "significant" role in her death.
Detective Sergeant Tom Kenney informed the court that police had identified Jack Budden as the dealer who supplied the cocaine. Although manslaughter charges were ruled out for prosecution, Budden was charged with supplying a Class A drug and received a two-year prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. He was later imprisoned in 2025 for unrelated drug offenses.
No legal action was taken against Darren Phillips, with authorities considering it a "joint enterprise" between the couple and determining that prosecuting a grieving husband who would "have to live with what happened for the rest of his life" was not in the public interest.
Ambulance Service Investigation Reveals Critical Errors
The Isle of Wight Ambulance Service launched a Patient Safety Incident Investigation focusing on the actions of specialist critical care paramedic Fred Thompson, the most senior clinician at the scene. The investigation revealed that the initial crew had planned to transport Franki to the hospital once all possible interventions had been completed at the house. However, Mr. Thompson decided against moving her.
The investigation concluded that his decision not to convey her to the hospital was "difficult to justify" and represented an "error of judgement" that fell below the expectations for an experienced paramedic. Additionally, Mr. Thompson improperly used an ultrasound machine, which he was not authorized to operate, and investigators determined he misread and misinterpreted the information from the device.
Mr. Thompson resigned from the ambulance service in 2023 and referred himself to the professional regulator. A Health and Care Professions Tribunal is currently considering whether he should face disciplinary action or be removed from the register. He now works for private healthcare provider Practice Plus Group and maintains that his actions were "done in the best interest without malice."
Family's Anguish and Coroner's Warning
Darren Phillips expressed his profound regret during the inquest, stating he "fully" regretted purchasing the cocaine and sending a clear message to others: "Just don't do it." He also criticized Mr. Thompson's actions, suggesting the paramedic had "played God" by declaring his wife dead.
Franki's sister Victoria described her as "the most beautiful, kind-hearted person I knew"—a generous, animal-loving individual who enjoyed reading, learning about astronomy, and offering excellent advice. Victoria also expressed frustration with Mr. Thompson's "lack of respect and cowardice" in being difficult to contact after leaving the service, which had delayed the inquest proceedings.
Coroner Mrs. Sumeray noted it was "very difficult" to identify any single factor leading to Franki's death other than cocaine use. She issued a stark warning about the increasing prevalence of cocaine use among younger people on the Isle of Wight, emphasizing: "Drugs kill, and we don't know what we're taking. I am heartbroken that this family has been torn apart by this. A beautiful young woman died, and for what?"
The inquest continues as authorities examine all aspects of this tragic case that has highlighted the dangers of recreational drug use and raised serious questions about emergency medical response protocols.
